(News) Drought in Maharashtra has come as a boon for Bundelkhand farmers

Maharashtra drought brings windfall for Bundelkhand farmers

Drought in Maharashtra has come as a boon for Bundelkhand's wheat growers. Due to high demand of wheat from Maharashtra, traders are making big purchases of wheat, offering rates up to Rs 1,500 per quintal while the minimum support price, at which the government makes procurement, is only Rs 1,350 per quintal.

Officials of Food and Civil Supplies Department said that wheat price had recently escalated in Bundelkhand region, mainly in Jhansi division comprising Jhansi, Jalaun and Lalitpur districts. Because of the attractive prices being offered by traders, purchases by official agencies are low, they said.

"In Maharashtra, the wheat price in drought-hit areas in the free market is reportedly around Rs 2,200 per quintal. Traders from Maharashtra are buying wheat in Bundelkhand. They are offering a price anywhere between Rs 1,450 and Rs 1,500 per quintal. It has affected our purchases," said V K Dwivedi, Regional Food Controller (RFC), Jhansi division.

As a result, the support prices, "which is meant to protect the interest of farmers", has become meaningless, he said.

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Courtesy : The Indian Express